Twenty Three Years Later
Sapphire, a now grown young lady was sitting crossed-legged on her sofa, flipping through the t.v. channels. She let out a long sigh. Nothing interested her on the screen until she finally came to a stop. A program about galaxies, planets, solar systems and other living forms outside of planet earth was on. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. Her ears perked up at the sudden interest of the program. She had spent years and countless of hours researching about these things, trying to find an explanation to her existence. Only her grandma knew about her secret. She warned Sapphire that if anyone else knew, the government would find out and take her in for examination and experiments, but Sapphire had so many unanswered questions. Life had thrown her so many curves and she was about to just go running to the government, turn herself in just to get some answers but she knew that was stupid and reckless. She wouldn't be selfish to leave her grandma alone. She was all she had. Her heart was torn between both desires.
'Life is possible outside of earth..' She repeated mentally what the narrator said.
"Saffie, bon ape tit!" A woman's voice came from the kitchen.
"Great! I'll be right there." Her eyes remained on the screen.
After a few minutes, the woman poked her head from the kitchen and glared at Sapphire. "Now!" She ordered.
"Okay!" Sapphire laughed. Jumping off the couch, she ran to the kitchen. It was no different than the day when she first arrived to this house, nothing was moved out of place. Her grandma was very organized, and now more than ever, she kept everything in it's place. Especially since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
"Grandma Lila, let me help you." Sapphire drew nearer to the old woman and took a fish, wrapped in foil paper. She placed the foiled pouch on a plate and served it with white rice.
"Grandma, would you like tea or lemonade?" She asked, setting the plate down on the table, a napkin and a fork lay next to it. Her grandma did not answer, she was concentrated on pulling out the last fish from the oven.
"Grandma?" Sapphire's voice rose so the old lady could hear her.
"Hmm? Oh, honey, were you speaking to me?" Her weary eyes looked into the younger woman's deep blue eyes.
Sapphire smiled warmly. "Tea or lemonade?"
"Oh, tea please." The elderly woman smiled.
"What's this?" Lila said as she walked to the living room. Sapphire blinked, watching her grandma and followed after her. On the T.V., the program she had been watching was interrupted by breaking news in New York. She slowly sat down by Lila's side who had taken a seat on the couch. What she saw shocked her: A monstrous green giant roaring, fighting along side an iron suited man. A man dressed in skin-tight star-spangled-banner suit was reflecting the iron suited man's blast from his shield, hitting their enemies. A redheaded woman, kicking and shooting at the dark skinned aliens, belts strapped around her legs and waist, partnered up with a young man carrying a bow and arrow, expertly hitting each target and a magnificent looking blonde haired warrior, wrapped in armor. He was wielding a hammer and swinging it, sending all his enemies flying away.
She sat there in awe of what was plastered on the screen. "Who are they?" She asked, still in a daze.
"It says they are the Avengers." Lila answered.
Could this be it? Beings from another world? They certainly weren't ordinary.. Nor those dark skinned beings that were attacking the city.
"Grandma... Oh my God... What is going on?"
"We're safe here, Saffie. They're far from us." Lila stared at Sapphire, her brows furrowed.
"Grandma..." Sapphire took Lila's old hands, "I'm scared.."
Lila gave her a warm smile. "Don't be, sweetheart." After she said that, she became silent for a while as if contemplating something. Then, her eyes became downcast. "Perhaps now is your opportunity." Her eyes traveled to the screen before them.
"What?" Sapphire gave her grandmother a perplexed look.
After receiving only a sigh from her grandma, Sapphire turned back to the screen, clenching her hands into fists. Her grandmother was right this had to be her only chance. Finally, a way to get to her real family and apparently, these super humans had the answers.
"As much as I'd hate to send you out with those people, I believe you have to meet them, Saffie."
Sapphire gave her grandma a shocked look. "Grandma, are you sure about this? Do you really think I should go?"
The elderly woman simply nodded, giving Sapphire a weak smile, tears threatening to come out of her aged eyes.
Sapphire also fought to hold back her tears that were now appearing at the rim of her deep ocean blue eyes.
"But for now," her grandmother stood, smiling and brushing off all negative feelings, "let's finish that fish."
Sapphire returned the smile and nodded, "Yeah!"
A day later.
"Here." Lila placed a crocheted purple beanie over Sapphire's head.
"Grandma, please come with me.." Sapphire pleaded.
"No, sweetie, my place is here. I'm an old lady, you know I can't take any more adventures. Do you want me dead already? I still have to conquer the heart of Will, our neighbor remember?" Lila winked jokingly at her dear granddaughter.
"Heh." Sapphire laughed weakly, remaining silent after that.
"Oh, I can't do this grandma!" Sapphire wrapped her arms around the elderly woman and began to sob. "I can't do this without you! I don't want to leave you! Please, don't make me leave you! You're all I have..." Those last words came out of her weakly.
"Shh... Shh.." Lila stroked Sapphire's hair, "You know I'll always be with you." She struggled to remain strong for her. "No distance, not one thing, nor anyone for that matter will ever undo what we built together."
"I know but.. I need you.." Sapphire stepped back to look at her grandmother, tears rolling out of her eyes.
The day was drawing to an end and she would lose her opportunity to find the Avengers.
"Do it for me." Lila brushed some tears away from Sapphire's cheeks. "Find your family for me. Promise me you'll find them at all cost."
Sapphire knew this was the only way. "Yes, grandma, I promise but I also promise to come back for you!"
This caused Lila to chuckle a bit and she embraced Sapphire tightly.
"Go."
~.~.~.~.~.~
Sapphire scanned endlessly for the Avengers, as she rode her bike through Terrace Drive in Central Park.
"I can't let this opportunity slip away!" She had a determined look on her face. Riding rather quickly, she was oblivious to the vehicle badly parked ahead of her. Before she had time to notice, her bike crashed into a vehicle.
Sapphire flew out of her bicycle and onto the hard concrete tiles.
"Ah!" She landed hard and her head hit the floor. After a few minutes of being passed out she managed to open her eyes. Her head pounded from the impact and she instinctively grabbed it.
"Ooohhh..." She groaned.
"Who in the world?" She heard a voice say.
"Excuse me, you okay?" A male voice asked.
"Huh?" She looked up and instantly realized who was in front of her. Holding her breath, her unearthly sapphire eyes stared at the Avengers and she felt a massive wave of humiliation come over her.
Steve stepped toward her, holding out a helping hand. "Are you okay?"
Sapphire took it and stood, blushing. 'This must be Captain America...' She thought.
"I-I think so... I..." She realized the headband her grandma had given her had become untied and her ears were now out in the open for everyone to see. The blood drained from her face. She gasped and covered them in embarrassment with her hands.
"I see you are not of Midgard, as well." Thor's voice was low and rough.
"Yeah, thanks for the observation, Sherlock." Said Tony. He turned his attention to Sapphire, "So, where are you from? What's your name?"
Meanwhile, Thor in the background looked confused at the Sherlock comment.
"S-Sapphire..."
"Sapphire, this is very a very important moment for us so I'm gonna have to ask you to continue on your way." Said Steve.
"Whoa, hold it." Tony raised a hand, pointing a finger upwards. He stepped forward, towards Sapphire. "Cap, look at her. She can't be here either. You know, rules from Fury."
"And you care because?" The redheaded woman she had seen on the t.v. directed her question to Tony, an eyebrow raised at him.
"Uh 'cause maybe, just maybe an entire alien race nearly destroyed my humble home. I don't know about you guys, but I want my planet alien free. Starting with Mr. Cow here." He pointed toward a man standing next to Thor.
That's when she first noticed him standing there, wearing a metal muzzle over his mouth, yet he stood with a grace that adorned him. His icy blue eyes were downcast but he felt her eyes on him and he abruptly looked straight at her, locking her into his gaze. His face was filled with wounds and a clear cut laid just on the bridge of his nose. Was he the one who had caused this war? He looked defeated, yet she could tell his ego got the best of him. He was staring at her, his chin up and his eyes now looking down at her and she could see that behind the muzzle he was smirking mischievously, teasing her with his eyes. Despite the tension he gave her, she felt drawn to him.
Why did he call him cow?
"What's the hold up here?" Another unknown voice interrupted her thoughts and her gaze on Loki. She looked at the man dressed in a black trench coat. He wore an eye patch, making him look even more intimidating. "I want him off my planet. No more outsiders for today, please." He eyed all of them with his one eye.
"Speaking of which." Tony pointed to Sapphire.
She froze as Fury let his eye fall on her.
"What the?" She heard him say.
"Who are you and what do you want? Are you one of Loki's followers?"
"N-No... Who's Loki?" Sapphire blinked.
"Seriously, do you live in a box?" The short man standing next to Natalie asked. He was the one who was fighting the aliens with his bow and arrow.
"I'm sorry... I'm just-"
"Clueless." Nick interrupted. "Okay, this is what I did not want. Another freak on my planet."
"What?!" Sapphire glared at Nick. "I'm not a freak! I'm just looking for my real family! It's not my fault that I just happened to be dropped off on YOUR planet and picked up by a kind lady who raised me all of my life! All I'm looking for is answers and I came desperately seeking you all for help because I don't belong here and I just want to see my family!"
"You certainly don't belong here." Nick was looking at her and then turned to Thor. "Can you take her?"
"Hm?" Thor blinked.
"Take me?! I don't want to leave with them! I want answers!" Sapphire was clearly still angry at Fury.
"You'll get your answers out of my planet. You ain't getting any help here, kid."
"Fury is right." A man dressed in a purple shirt suddenly spoke up. His voice was calming for Sapphire. "Your chances of finding your family are slim here with us. We don't have the means nor the time to help you, considering all the clean up that needs to be done from the war. Going with Thor and Loki is your best bet."
Sapphire was in shock. She shook her head, "No I'm not leaving without my grandma."
"If you're grandma is mortal then I cannot take her with me. My father, Odin, has forbidden entry to Asgard for all humans." For some reason, Thor looked saddened.
Sapphire gave out a loud sigh. She heard Loki's chains as he shifted his weight from leg to leg. He looked uncomfortable. Everyone was waiting for her response and she was not ready to make such a strong decision.
"You need to decide NOW." Fury looked at her.
"We promise to help you, Sapphire." Thor gave her a gentle smile. "I give you my word. Come with us."
"But my grandma..."
"We have means of keeping watch over your grandmother and a way back to Midgard - er- Earth for you to visit her."
Sapphire hesitated but considering this will be her only chance, she nodded, accepting Thor's offer.
"Then we will be on our way. Farewell everyone. Until next time." Thor nodded to Loki who held a device in his hands. Thor held the same device and turned his end clockwise. Loki followed with the same movement on his end and a beam of light engulfed all three of them. They disappeared in mere seconds.